Confetti cannons erupted, spraying colorful paper over more than 300 graduates at the conclusion of spring commencement May 9 at Freeman Coliseum.
Graduates turned their tassels, exchanged hugs and posed for photos with family and friends to celebrate the occasion.
Former San Antonio mayor Henry Cisneros delivered the commencement address. Mariachis played. A jazz quartet performed. OLLU President Abel Chávez awarded diplomas to more than 300 students who earned bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees.
Torrential rains didn’t stop more than 100 high school juniors and seniors from attending the inaugural “Passport to Your Future” Girls Conference at OLLU-Houston in late March.
Upon arrival the girls and chaperones were greeted by OLLU staff, faculty, and volunteers and then enjoyed continental breakfast before the opening session.
“Education has allowed me to travel the world, be with communities, work in communities, listen to communities, be of service to communities, and contribute to the development of many communities,” said OLLU President Abel A. Chávez, PhD, in a recorded greeting to the participants. “Your education can also be that for you, and we at Our Lady of the Lake University can be your partner in that passport to your future.”
OLLU-Houston was decorated with many references to the passport theme. The girls attended workshops focused on the Arts, Business, Healthcare, Law, Leadership, Psychology, Technology, and college/career readiness.
“Many of the girls in my sessions were still thinking about their plans for after high school,” said Victoria Sandoval, OLLU Graduate Admissions Counselor. “Some were going to be the first in their families to attend college. As a first-gen college graduate, I was able to share with the girls some of the strategies I used to navigate college.”
The “Passport to Your Future” Girls Conference on March 21 was a collaborative effort with university and community partners. External collaborators included: Houston Northwest Chamber of Commerce, MD Anderson Leadership Institute, Monty and Ramirez LLP Attorneys at Law, Spring ISD, and TDECU. The internal partners were the Office of Admissions, Office of Alumni Affairs and Family Relations, Department of Computer Information Systems and Security, Department of Psychology, and Zschool.
Sister Jane Ann Slater, CDP, PhD, President Emerita of OLLU and the first woman Chancellor of the Archdiocese of San Antonio, and Maria Antoinetta Berriozabal, the first Hispanic woman to serve on the San Antonio City Council, will be featured in a “Women, Faith and Leadership” conversation on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at St. Mary’s University’s Alkek Atrium.
Sponsored by the Theology Department and the Center for Catholic Studies, the event is free and will conclude at 7:30 p.m. Refreshments will be served.
A January 2024 working paper from the National Bureau of Economic Research suggests that a double major offers better job security over a lifetime.
Dr. Andrew Hanks and his colleagues report that over the long term, college graduates with two majors or a dual degree are 56 percent less likely to suffer significant disruptions to their job earnings — such as pay cuts, layoffs, and periods of unemployment in general — than those with a single college major.
Since 2019, OLLU’s undergraduate Double Major in Four Years [DMFY] Degree Plans have become more common than at any time in school history, with combinations of majors in social work, psychology, and criminal justice leading the way. Students find greater return on investment for the DMFY college degree, saving tuition dollars by finishing faster and accelerating their entry into the workforce or onto graduate studies.
Students are more competitive when applying for jobs or graduate school because these additional credentials help them stand out in a crowded employment field. They also find more job choices available when you have two specialties instead of just one.
Visit www.ollusa.edu/doublemajor for more information on the undergraduate Double Major in Four Years [DMFY] Degree Plans available or contact John Gomez, PhD, Professor of Psychology, at jpgomez@ollusa.edu or call 210-431-6577.
Adriana Rocha Garcia, PhD, Associate Professor of Marketing and City Councilwoman, District 4, has been elected to the National League of Cities (NLC) Board of Directors.
Elected to a one-year term, Dr. Garcia will provide strategic direction and guidance for NLC’s federal advocacy, governance and membership activities.
NLC is the largest and most representative organization for cities, their elected leaders and municipal staff. NLC advocates for city priorities in Washington by building strong federal-local partnerships.
She said, “As a Latina leader who was born and raised in San Antonio, it is a distinct privilege of representing our dynamic city as we usher in an era of transformational change and life-changing investments in people and communities.”
OLLU alumna Maria Hernandez Ferrier, EdD (BA 1978, MEd 1981), founding and President Emeritus of Texas A&M-San Antonio, will serve as the keynote speaker at fall commencement ceremonies on Thursday at 5 p.m. at Freeman Coliseum.
The former Director General of Mexico relations for the Texas A&M University system, Dr. Ferrier has a remarkable history of accomplishment and service.
In 1990, President George H. Bush appointed her as the Department of Education’s Director of Bilingual Education, and in 1992, appointed her to the Commission of National and Community Service. In 2002, President George W. Bush appointed Dr. Ferrier as Assistant Deputy Secretary for the Office of English Language Acquisition.
She is the founder of the San Antonio Chapter of City Year, the national service organization that became the model for AmeriCorps.
In 1991 President George H. Bush designated the Kelly Air Force Base-Southwest Independent School District Mentorship program, that Dr. Ferrier co-created, as the 242nd Point of Light.
In 2021 the Texas Supreme Court appointed Dr. Ferrier to the Texas State Bar.
Dr. Ferrier was inducted into the San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame and has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber’s Lifetime Achievement Award; San Antonio University Roundtable’s “Best and Brightest;” the Hispanic Heritage Award from the U.S. Department of Labor; the Imagineer Award from the Mind Science Foundation; and the U.S. Department of Education’s National Hispanic Achiever Award.
Dr. Ferrier earned a Bachelor of Arts in Speech and a Master of Education in Guidance and Counseling from Our Lady of the Lake University. She holds a Doctorate in Educational Administration from Texas A&M University-College Station.
10 a.m. – Ring Blessing Ceremony Location: OLLU Sacred Heart Chapel Regalia not required. Students may bring class rings or any other significant items such as jewelry that they wish to have blessed at this prayer service. Graduates should arrive by 9:50 a.m.
10:30 a.m. – Alumni and Family Meet and Greet for students and their guests Location: Mall Area Regalia not required. Enjoy pastries and refreshments with faculty, and staff from the Alumni and Family Relations Office (immediately following the Ring Blessing). Parking Permits for commencement will be available for purchase at this time (cash only).
OLLU dining services will be open for those who would like to enjoy lunch with their graduates.
11:30 a.m. – Graduation Liturgy Line-up Students will line up in Chapel Auditorium, located below Sacred Heart Chapel. Regalia required.
Noon – Graduation Liturgy Location: OLLU Sacred Heart Chapel Regalia required. Caps and gowns will be worn for the liturgy, with bachelor’s and master’s degree candidates carrying their hoods over their arms. Doctoral candidates will receive their hoods on stage at commencement.
It is recommended that guests arrive early since seating is limited. Students whose guests require special seating due to a disability, and those graduating students who wish to participate as readers/lectors, altar servers, or trained Eucharistic Ministers should contact University Ministry at 210-431-3973 or by email: ministry@ollusa.edu. Special seating requests made to University Ministry are only for Sacred Heart Chapel.
5 p.m. – Commencement Exercise Location: Joe and Harry Freeman Coliseum (off campus) 3201 East Houston St. San Antonio, Texas 78219 Regalia required
PLEASE NOTE: The ceremonies will be live streamed. The link will be available on the Graduation web page on the day of commencement.
